'Resident Evil 7: Biohazard' said to be a perfect blend of new and old

Capcom has weaved a curious web with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard. Since its surprise debut at E3, the developer has fed hungry gamers a steady diet of demos and trailers yet six months later, we’re still not really sure what form the game will ultimately take.

Early teasers suggested an entirely new direction for the franchise, a welcomed change among those that have grown tired of the action-y route Capcom has adopted with recent releases. But does that mean the developer has abandoned the action style entirely? How about that first-person perspective… and virtual reality?

The publication has graciously put together an 8-minute gameplay sampler from a four-hour binge (roughly a third of the full game, Capcom says) with a near-final build of the Resident Evil 7. There’s also an excellent write-up accommodating the video should you wish to dig deeper. You won't find any spoilers, per se, but it may be a bit too revealing for those looking to tackle the game with a clean slate.

Plenty of mysteries still remain but if nothing else, Capcom will at least make people give the franchise another look. Could it be an early front-runner for most anticipated game of 2017?

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is set to launch on January 24, 2017, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC.